After helping carry the promotion since its inception, lightweight Eddie Alvarez may have been taking to the Bellator cage for the final time tonight with free agency looming beyond the bout. If it was indeed his last hurrah, the 23-3 former champion certainly went out on a high note despite opponent Patricky Freire’s commendable effort.

The main event match-up lived up to its billing with both men injuring the other early in the first frame. After a few heated exchanges and some clinch-work, Alvarez ended up landing a perfectly-placed headkick sending “Pitbull” to the canvas. On the way down, Alvarez delivered another stiff shot and one more on the mat for good measure to earn the knockout win with less than a ten seconds remaining in the round.

Also scheduled for Bellator 76, an octet of featherweights will face off in the opening round of the promotion’s Season 7 tournament with the field including names like Wagnney Fabiano, Jeremy Spoon, Nazareno Malegarie, and Rad Martinez. Three of the four quarterfinal clashes ended in the opening round of action with Fabiano, Mike Richman, and Shabulat Shamhalaev all advancing to the final four. The lone exception was Martinez who stood with Malegarie throughout the bulk of the match-up and notched a decision win thinks to precise striking and some timely takedowns.

The first time I watched the Richman/Spoon fight I thought that stoppage was a bit early. But in the replays you can see the ref pulling his legs down and it’s clear that had no idea where he was. Great stoppage by the ref. Great instinct by Richman.

Eddie baited him into that head kick so well. Love seeing skilled, composed fighters set things up in the cage. Reminds me of the famous Gretzky quote where he talks about how most guys skate to the puck, while he skates to where it’s going to be.